In a resounding boost for women’s cricket in the city of dreams, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has auctioned off three franchises for its inaugural Women’s T20 Mumbai League, raking in over ₹4 crore.
Modeled on the high-octane IPL-style men’s T20 Mumbai League, this seven-match women’s extravaganza promises to spotlight Mumbai’s deep talent pool, with bids reflecting surging commercial interest in the women’s game.
The league, tentatively slated from June 1 to 15 alongside the men’s tournament post-IPL 2026, will be exclusively for women cricketers from Mumbai’s 55 affiliated clubs. Icon players Jemimah Rodrigues, Saima Thakor, and Sayali Satghare are set to lead the charge, subject to availability, while an auction will flesh out the squads. This homegrown format underscores Mumbai’s unique cricket ecosystem, far richer in club depth than many states.
Bidding kicked off with a bang on Saturday, crowning PRS Infraprojects LLP as the top dog at a whopping ₹2.25 crore (Rank 1), followed by Roadway Solution India Infra Ltd at ₹1.09 crore (Rank 2), and World Star Sporting Private Limited at ₹79 lakh (Rank 3). These corporate heavyweights will secure operational rights for the teams upon finalizing agreements, as decided by the T20 Mumbai Governing Council.
MCA President Ajinkya Naik hailed the outcome as a game-changer, “The overwhelming response to the bidding process for the T20 Mumbai Women’s League is a strong endorsement of our vision to elevate women’s cricket in Mumbai. The participation of reputed corporate groups reflects the growing commercial confidence in the women’s game. We are committed to building a competitive and professionally managed league that provides a robust platform for emerging talent.”
Echoing the excitement, T20 Mumbai League Governing Council Chairman Rajdip Gupta added, “The successful conclusion of the bidding process marks an important milestone for the T20 Mumbai Women’s League. The strong bids received underline the league’s credibility and potential. We look forward to working closely with the franchise owners to deliver a high-quality tournament that showcases the depth of women’s cricketing talent in Mumbai.”
With finer details pending, this ₹4 crore windfall signals Mumbai’s intent to pioneer women’s franchise cricket at the domestic level. Expect fierce rivalries, star turns, and a blueprint for other associations to follow, proving the batons of change are firmly in women’s athletes participating in the tournament.
(Quotes sourced from Cricbuzz)
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